Ruthless Spring

“My reputation precedes me, as it should,” she tells him. “Most people know who I am before they meet me. You have to recognize death’s face if she ever comes for you, after all.”

Silence invades the room and I can’t ignore the thick tension that feels oddly sexual… and definitely threatening.

Diamond quirks a brow at Lucia and he opens his mouth to say something else, but the door is opening as Vito steps into the room. His gaze moves straight to me. “You shouldn’t be in here, Winter.”

I shrug my shoulders.

He inhales a deep breath before turning his attention to Diamond, completely ignoring Lucia. “Your father is on his way to get you,” he says.

“About fucking time,” he says, rising. There’s a wince again, but he tries to push through the pain, the strain visible on his face as he tries to turn to take his feet off the cot.

“What a pathetic sight,” Lucia says.

Before he can bite back a retort at her, she disappears out of the room. Diamond looks at the door she just left out of and he mutters something under his breath,' but I don’t miss the way his lips pull up into a grin at the corners.

“She prefers women,” Vito informs Diamond, apparently seeing the smile as well.

“And I prefer to be in the comfort of my own home, but look at where we are,” Diamond says, rolling his eyes.

Vito sighs, turning away from him and looking at me. “Let’s go, Winter.”

I climb to my feet, not putting up a fight. I know everything I wanted to know now, so there’s no reason to linger.

Vito opens the door, holding it for me.

“See you later, Winter!” Diamond calls out behind me as the door closes.